Gaibnazarov is the seventh 2016 Olympian to join the Top Rank stable, which includes fellow gold medal champion Robson Conceicao, silver medalist Shakur Stevenson, and top amateurs Michael Conlan, Teofimo Lopez, Antonio Vargas and Jeyvier Cintron. Managed by Egis Klimas, the Boxing Writers Association of America’s (BWAA) 2016 Manager of the Year, Gaibnazarov is expected to make his pro debut in an eight-round bout in the spring.

“Gaibnazarov is a blue chip signing who will soon be a danger to everyone in the lightweight, junior welterweight and welterweight divisions,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “We can’t wait to introduce him properly to the world as a professional.”

“I am very happy to bring to my team and to introduce to professional boxing another great prospect in 2016 Olympic gold medalist Fazliddin “Fayzi” Gaibnazarov, from Uzbekistan,” said Klimas.. “Uzbekistan is a country where boxing is the number one sport. Unfortunately for many years it was concentrated in amateur boxing, but the times are changing and now, together with “Fayzi” and Top Rank, we will be able to bring more professional boxing to Uzbekistan. I would like to thank Top Rank for giving an opportunity to this young, talented man and I looking forward to see him in ring making his pro debut in the near future.”

“Top Rank is the best promotional company in the world and I always want to be with the best,” said Gaibnazarov. “Thank you, Top Rank, and especially Bob Arum, for giving me this opportunity and letting me show and prove in the ring my ability to fight as a professional. I would like to thank my country Uzbekistan, which has an excellent amateur boxing program, and my trainer Abror, who helped me to reach one of my goals – winning Olympic gold last summer in Rio. I have many more goals as a professional and I know it will take a lot of hard work to achieve them – to become a world champion as a professional fighter. Thank you to my manager Egis Klimas, who is helping me with my professional boxer career. See you soon from the ring.”

In an action fight against his fiercest pro opponent yet, Jose Ramirez rose to the occasion and claimed a vacant junior welterweight belt Saturday night, outpointing Amir Imam by unanimous decision in the Top Rank ESPN main event.

Oleksandr "The Nail" Gvozdyk spent most of the fight with Mehdi Amar nailing him with an assortment of combinations to claim a vacant interim light heavyweight world title, and Michael Conlan scored an impressive KO victory to stay unbeaten.

Bob Arum and Don King, the most prominent promoters in boxing history, have butted heads for decades. But they are friendly rivals these days and enjoy talking over old times and telling their war stories.

Floyd Mayweather says he will begin training "soon" for a transition into mixed martial arts and that he already has been in contact with UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley about working together in the near future.

Isaac Dogboe's father, Paul, apologized for his remarks aimed at his son's opponent, Jessie Magdaleno, in which he said his son would throw the Mexican descendant "over the wall of Mexico and present the title to Donald Trump."

Gennady Golovkin was in disbelief when Canelo Alvarez tested positive for a banned substance. Along with Golovkin's trainer, Abel Sanchez, they used the word "disappointment," not about Alvarez, but his team.

Golden Boy and Top Rank have signed a deal for Jorge Linares to defend his 135-pound crown against Vasyl Lomachenko, who will move up from 130 pounds, on May 12 at Madison Square Garden in New York, sources said.

Oscar Valdez kept his belt against Scott Quigg but paid a high price for it as the Mexican featherweight champion had to have his jaw wire shut days after Saturday's bloody fight. Valdez's manager said it was unclear as to when he'd be back in the ring.

Mikey Garcia won a world title in his fourth weight class with his victory over Sergey Lipinets and must now decide which direction he wants to go with a number of potential opponents at different weight classes on his radar.